Is the Viral Cleaning Cube Worth the Hype? Our Editor Put it to the Test
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
I love to clean and organize, so I always get sucked into watching TikToks and Reels where people take apart their Dyson to deep clean or where they restock their pantry ASMR style. That's how I first came across the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner and it wasn't long before another work colleague of mine shared a video about this product, too. The machine, dubbed the cleaning cube, went viral because it can release steam that kills bacteria and viruses. It has over 20.9k ratings right now on Amazon alone! Of course, I had to test this for myself to see what the hype was about.
Neat Steam Cleaner
amazon.com
$149.78
I planned on just testing the Dupray system on my nightstand and bed frame, but it was so meditative to use that I ended up taking it all around the house. Ahead, I'll walk you through my entire experience and answer your pressing FAQs, including whether or not the Neat Steam Cleaner really lives up to the hype. Find out below.
[table-of-contents] stripped
Delivery and Setup
The steam cleaner came in one large brown box and it was relatively easy to lift up as the device itself only weighs nine pounds. All the accompanying parts were packed nicely and I wasn't missing anything. In terms of setup, it was easy and intuitive to figure out. I did skim the instruction manual, but essentially all you need to do is plug in the power cord into an outlet, fill the machine with water, let it heat up, and then use the hose attachments to start cleaning! At first, all the accessories might seem overwhelming, but the manual clearly explains what each piece is used for. My only critique: I wish the Neat machine came with an extra storage container to hold all the tiny brushes and cloth pads.
How the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner Works
The first step was to fill the machine (or the boiler as it's called) with water. I unscrewed the boiler cap on the upper left hand corner and poured three cups of tap water in. The water capacity is 40 ounces, or five cups, and demineralized water is recommended to avoid mineral build up. I then plugged the machine in and hit the power button, which lights up in orange. The color will change to green after eight to 10 minutes to indicate that the Neat system is ready to use.
Since I was staying at my parents' house, specifically in my sister's bedroom, I wanted to steam clean her nightstand and bed frame before I used them. The room has been empty for years and isn't regularly sanitized, so this felt like a good place to test the steam cleaner. I used the triangular tool with a microfiber bonnet to clean the two pieces of furniture. The steam came out much louder and more powerful than I anticipated, which signaled to me the machine really worked. The water quickly evaporated from the surfaces the tool touched. I did notice that some water trickled down from the bonnet onto the rod, but not enough to make my hands or the entire rod wet.
The machine and rod did get hot, so after I felt satisfied with the cleaning, I pressed the power button off to let everything cool down. The cool down part takes about 20 minutes. Since I didn't end up using all the water in the machine, I was debating what to do with the remaining liquid, as I didn't want it to just sit inside the machine. (It would have been nice if there were water level indicators on this machine!) The manual says to hold the steam trigger down until all the steam is released, but after three seemingly long minutes of doing that, I was over it. Once the machine cooled down, I just flipped it upside down to pour the rest of the water into the toilet.
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner FAQs
At this point, you likely have further questions, like if the steam cleaner actually kills bacteria and viruses or what are the types of accessories it comes with. I'll answer all your most pressing queries, below.
What kind of accessories does the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner come with?
It comes with two extension tubes, steam lance, three microfiber pads, floor tool, triangular tool, window tool, five nylon brushes, one brass brush, one microfiber cloth, and one microfiber bonnet.
What can the machine clean?
The Dupray Neat steam cleaner can target almost any surface you can think of for up to 50 minutes of cleaning time. I used the triangular tool with the bonnet on furniture and this also works on car interiors, countertops, and mattresses. The nylon brushes are good for ovens, stove tops, refrigerators, showers, bathtubs, trash cans, and toys. The brass brush (the gold one) works on barbecue grills and oven wire racks.
If you want to clean your floors, use the microfiber pad with liquid detergent then toss the pad into the washing machine to clean it. You can tumble dry low or air dry the pads. The floor tools work on almost any material, including sealed hardwood, sealed laminate, marble, tile, stained concrete, linoleum, granite, and vinyl. Lastly, the window tool, as the name suggests can be used on shower glass doors, car windshields, and mirrors.
Does it actually kill bacteria and viruses?
According to Dupray's internal testing process—you can parse through the reports here and here—the Neat steam cleaner kills 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses, pathogens, bedbugs, and even mold. The surfaces it can target include floors, furniture, toys, kitchen appliances, car interiors, and bathrooms. To effectively kill bacteria and viruses, the steam's temperature needs to be between 175°F and 212°F. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two common steam-sterilizing temperatures are 250°F and 270°F. The Neat Dupray system's steam temperature is 275°F, so you know it works.
Does the steam cleaner have a warranty?
There is a two-year limited warranty which covers parts only, meaning accessories and shipping and handling costs are excluded. There is also a service fee associated with warranty claims when they repair or replace your defective parts. The boiler has a lifetime warranty though as well as lifetime telephone support.
Pros and Cons to the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner
Neat Steam Cleaner
amazon.com
$149.78
My Final Verdict
I really enjoyed using the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner and can see myself having a field day with this in my apartment. I don't regularly deep clean parts like door knobs and refrigerator door handles, so I can only imagine the invisible germs on those surfaces. I like that I can use the steam cleaner there without having to physically wipe down the surfaces. When cold and flu season hits, I'm going to bring out this machine and steam clean everything, in order to see if it does prevent me from getting sick often. Overall, from the setup to use, this product works as advertised, so I'm satisfied with it and would definitely recommend it to the germaphobes in my life.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
You Might Also Like
